Since their arrival in the nineteenth century, there are now an estimated 2.7 million grey squirrels across Great Britain. And across the forests in our care, we're facing a serious problem from the damage they cause to the woodlands and wildlife within them.
Controlling grey squirrel numbers is an essential part of maintaining healthy, resilient forests for the future.
Why grey squirrels are a problem
Grey squirrels wreck woodlands by stripping bark from tree trunks, which weakens the whole ecosystem and can even kill trees outright.
And grey squirrels also present a threat to native red squirrels, which are now classed as endangered and in need of our protection. They outcompete red squirrels for food, and carry disease which kills them.
Managing grey squirrels naturally
Having the right mix of predators is a vital part of healthy woodland ecosystems, so that trees and wildlife can flourish and remain resilient decades ahead.
Pine martens, once common in English woodlands, prey on grey squirrels and suppress their numbers. Returning pine martens to our woodlands is the best long-term way to control grey squirrels. They are gradually making a comeback, and we are doing all we can to help them.
Returning pine martens
We have already worked on successfully returning pine martens to some of the nation's forests, and continue to monitor the impact they're having on grey squirrels. Our vision is that in twenty years, pine martens will have safely established right across England’s woodlands, including those we look after. We’re working hard with others to make that happen.
Once it does, these important predators will have restored the important ecosystem balance and grey squirrels will be either gone from these particular places or survive in low numbers.
Grey squirrels will then no longer pose a threat to our woodlands or to red squirrels, which can come back to the habitats they were driven out of with the arrival of the non-native greys.
How we manage grey squirrels now
It will take many years for pine martens to have returned to such a level. And in the meantime, we need to intervene to limit the damage grey squirrels cause to the woodlands in our care and ensure they are resilient for the future. We must continue focusing on protecting the red squirrel population from greys encroaching into their habitat.
Our specially trained wildlife rangers carefully and humanely control grey squirrels to reduce their numbers. We also work with external contractors and volunteers who, like our staff, work to the highest standards or safety and animal welfare.
